July 20, 2012

Review : Lover Mine by J.R. Ward


Title : Lover Mine
Author : J.R. Ward
Reading Dates : 07 Jun - 10 Jun 2012
Total Pages : 653
The Black Dagger Brotherhood

From Amazon :
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - vampire warriors, defenders of their race ...John Matthew has been through his vampire transition and taken to the life of the Brotherhood with a vengeance, but he still can't shake the nightmare of his past and is unsure of his future as a warrior hero. He's made a promise to honour the Brotherhood and their fight with the slayers at all costs, until the love of his life is kidnapped and he is forced to make a choice that could change his life and the Brotherhood's forever ...


Book Review of Lover Mine.


Lover Mine has been on my wish list for some time now. If you’ve read my reviews on the previous books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, you’ll know that aside from Zsadist’s story, the reason I’m following the series is because of John Matthew. Unfortunately, J.M. and Xhex’s story was a disappointment for me.

Looking back, I shouldn’t be surprised at all. After all, my interest in J.M.’s tale was because I enjoyed the revelations regarding his past, the relationships he was building with his newly discovered family and friends and a desperate wish for things to end well for him. And so while I can’t sense any chemistry between him and Xhex, I did enjoy the new revelations regarding his past as well as the relationship he has forged with his new family. These were infinitely more moving that the ongoing drama between him and Xhex.

On the other hand, I’ve found another reason to continue reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The addition of Saxton has spiced up the supposedly non-existent romance between Blaylock and Quinn. Prior to that I had thought all the passion on one side, but Lover Mine proved me wrong. The only question now is whether it is too late for either of them.

Then again, this might just be an excuse I’m giving myself for continuing my addiction.

My conclusions :

  • Would I re-read the book ? Yes, but not so much because of John & Xhex's story as what's happening around them.
  • Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yes, because I'd like to know what happens with Quinn and Blay.
  • Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Only because it makes up a part of a series.
  • Who would I recommend this too? Only to fans of the series. Not one of the better works in the series.
  • For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Borrow it.


On My Wish List

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Posted by at 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

July 14, 2012

On My Wishlist : Jodi Picoult books

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted at Cosy Up Book Reviews.
On My Wishlist
Do you have any books that you desperately want but haven't bought yet? The books can be old, new or forthcoming.

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult





From Amazon :
The acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a spellbinding tale of a mother's tragic loss and one man's last chance at gaining salvation.

Can we save ourselves, or do we rely on others to do it? Is what we believe always the truth?

One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen.

For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child.

Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish?

Once again, Jodi Picoult mesmerizes and enthralls readers with this story of redemption, justice, and love.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult





From Amazon :

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate—a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister—and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

My Sister’s Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child’s life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.

Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult





From Amazon :

Jodi Picoult's powerful novel portrays an emotionally charged marriage that changes course in one explosive moment.

For years, Jane Jones has lived in the shadow of her husband, renowned San Diego oceanographer Oliver Jones. But during an escalating argument, Jane turns on him with an alarming volatility. In anger and fear, Jane leaves with their teenage daughter, Rebecca, for a cross-country odyssey charted by letters from her brother Joley, guiding them to his Massachusetts apple farm, where surprising self-discoveries await. Now Oliver, an expert at tracking humpback whales across vast oceans, will search for his wife across a continent -- and find a new way to see the world, his family, and himself: through her eyes.
Posted by at 0 comments
Labels: , , ,

July 13, 2012

Review : House Rules by Jodi Picoult


Title : House Rules
Author : Jodi Picoult
Reading Dates : 01 Jun - 07 Jun 2012
Total Pages : 657
From Amazon :
When your son can’t look you in the eye . . . does that mean he’s guilty?

Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger’s syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. But he has a special focus on one subject—forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he’s always showing up and telling the cops what to do. And he’s usually right.

But when Jacob’s small hometown is rocked by a terrible murder, law enforcement comes to him. Jacob’s behaviors are hallmark Asperger’s, but they look a lot like guilt to the local police. Suddenly the Hunt family, who only want to fit in, are directly in the spotlight. For Jacob’s mother, Emma, it’s a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it’s another indication why nothing is normal because of Jacob.

And over this small family, the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?


Book Review of House Rules.

House Rules was the first Jodi Picoult book I’ve read but it definitely will not be the last. I wasn’t half way into the book before I was considering which book of hers I was going to pick up next.

What I loved about House Rules was also what I found disorientating in the beginning. The tale is told from many different perspectives and because of that Jodi Picoult humanises them all. There are no real bad guys here, just plenty of misconceptions and misunderstandings. Everyone has their own reasons whether it is the police carrying out their duty or the single mother doing the best she can for her children. It is these shades of gray portrayed so realistically which makes House Rules such an intriguing read.

The other reason I liked was the educational aspects. House Rules shows me my ignorance without being preachy about it and it’s a fun way to learn. Most important, it emphasizes how badly things can go wrong by being uninformed.

However, while the story has made me more aware of the plight of those with Asperger’s, I confess that I’m not yet motivated enough to do much about it. While it reminds me to consider things from more than my own viewpoint, I’m not yet ready to rise above my own self-interests.

In any case, House Rules was an interesting introduction to Jodi Picoult’s works and I’ll be looking to read more of her works after this.

My conclusions :

  • Would I re-read the book ? Yes.
  • Would I want to read the next book in the series if there were one? Yes.
  • Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
  • Who would I recommend this too? Just about anyone.
  • For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Posted by at 4 comments
Labels: , ,

July 10, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays : The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.

Teaser Tuesdays

Share 2 teaser sentences from your current read. Be careful not to include spoilers.



The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

From Page 298

"I lost you once and swore I would never lose you again," he says.
"You found me by moonlight." I am smiling.
"By luck," he says, a man of earth as always. "But I swore then that I would never lose you again. You have nothing to fear."
Posted by at 1 comments
Labels: , ,

July 8, 2012

In My Mailbox : The Traitor Spy Trilogy

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted at The Story Siren.
In My Mailbox

Anyone can participate. IMM is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Borrowed:


The Rogue by Trudi Canavan

Discover the magic of Trudi Canavan with her brand new novel in the Traitor Spy Trilogy...

Living among the Sachakan rebels, Lorkin does his best to learn about their unique magic. But the Traitors are reluctant to trade their secrets for the Healing they so desperately want.

Meanwhile, Sonea searches for the rogue, knowing that Cery cannot avoid assassination forever --- but the rogue's influence over the city's underworld, however, is far greater than she feared.

And in the University, two female novices are about to remind the Guild that sometimes their greatest enemy is found within...
Posted by at 11 comments
Labels: , ,

July 6, 2012

Review : The Famous Heroine / The Plumed Bonnet by Mary Balogh

Title : The Famous Heroine / The Plumed Bonnet
Author : Mary Balogh
Reading Dates : 29 May - 01 Jun 2012
Total Pages : 495
From Amazon :
THE FAMOUS HEROINE
Cora Downes has beauty, spirit, and money, but no breeding. Yet when she gains renown for a daring rescue, she finds herself thrust into high society. Innocent and adrift in a world of beautiful banquets, bejeweled gowns, and snobbish standards, Cora is quickly compromised into a marriage—to a frivolous lord whose interests seem to lie elsewhere. But could piercingly blue-eyed and well-mannered Francis Kneller turn out to be the most unexpected love of her life?

THE PLUMED BONNET
Alistair Munro, the Duke of Bridgwater, is looking for love outside the bounds of polite society. And that’s what he expects to receive when he rescues a seemingly disreputable girl in a colorful bonnet off the side of the road. Yet Stephanie Gray, a former governess, has recently come into money and is eager for a proper match with a well-born man. Sure that he’s sullied her name, Alistair offers marriage to make amends. And in this unlikely union, Stephanie and Alistair make a welcome discovery—that sometimes it’s possible to marry first, then fall in love.


Book Review of The Famous Heroine / The Plumed Bonnet.

Both the romances in the book encounter some difficulties revolving around misconceptions regarding appearances. However, while I loved The Famous Heroine, The Plumed Bonnet was merely passable.

Cora Downes and Francis Kneller are a lovely couple. Their courtship was hilarious and sweet because they’re both very kind people with a great sense of humor, capable of laughing at themselves. They very easily wound up on my list of favorite romance couples.

Cora and Francis’s story was wonderful. Without any melodrama, their slow slide into love was as natural as breathing. They both realized their feelings after becoming each other’s best friends. Best of all, I had great fun laughing along with them as they enjoyed their season and the ton.

On the other hand, I only liked The Plumed Bonnet because the Knellers and their family makes an appearance here. They’re also the only reason I’m thinking of looking for Mary Balogh’s related books.

Alistair Munro strikes me as being typical of wounded romance heroes while Stephanie Gray was utterly spineless. The explanation that she behaved the way she did out of gratitude and duty just doesn’t wash with me.

Read separately from The Famous Heroine, I might have enjoyed The Plumed Bonnet more but put together with the other, the tale doesn’t measure up. There was nothing to lift it out of the ordinary. And the main couple doesn’t interest me at all.

The book however is a keeper because of The Famous Heroine.

My conclusions :

  • Would I re-read the book ? Yes
  • Would I want to read the next book in the series if there were one? Yes, I'd like to see more of the Knellers.
  • Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
  • Who would I recommend this too? Romance readers.
  • For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Posted by at 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

July 3, 2012

Teaser Tuesday : The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore and Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.

Teaser Tuesdays

Share 2 teaser sentences from your current read. Be careful not to include spoilers.


The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

From Page 368

"Take Hector."
She wraps her arm around Hector's chest. "Why?"
"Because I'm not going to stay out here while that girl fights all by herself. This is my war, too."

Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward

From Page 380

"That's also a possibility." Pause. "Have I mentioned you are the hottest geek I've ever known?"
Posted by at 13 comments
Labels: , ,

July 2, 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday What Are You Reading ? is hosted at Book Journey.
It's Monday What Are You Reading?
Where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.



What I’m Reading:




Posted by at 15 comments
Labels: , ,

July 1, 2012

In My Mailbox and Half-Year Wrap-Up

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted at The Story Siren.
In My Mailbox

Anyone can participate. IMM is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Bought:


Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward

Payne, twin sister of the Black Dagger Brother Vishous, suffers a devastating injury, and brilliant human surgeon Manuel Manello is called in to save her. Their attraction is instant, and as powerful as it is dangerous. But as human and vampire worlds collide, a centuries- old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in jeopardy.


[ What I spent on the books : RM 23.95 ]


2012 Half-Year Wrap-Up:

Number of Books Read per Month:

After hitting a short spell, where I had neither the time nor inclination to read, thankfully I'm back to reading regularly again. And since, I'm more than a bit behind my target to read 80 books this year, having only read 25 books, I've also adjusted my targets for number of books read per month from 7 to 9.

On the other hand, my TBR pile steadily increased as while I might have virtually stopped reading, the same couldn't be said about my book buying.




Books Read:


Top 3 Favourites:



Posted by at 0 comments
Labels: , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...